Because of her position, she doesn't cover more than a small ear removed from the action of the game.

So senior Megan Ames, as goalkeeper of the women's lacrosse team, seems like an unlikely candidate for an overall team leader.

But the three-year starter and co-captain manages to have a major impact on the entire team's performance.

"She's vocal, and she has an aggressive style of play," Penn State women's lacrosse coach Suzanne Weinberg said. "This is her third year starting, so she comes into the season with a lot of experience."

Along with her style and experience, Ames also brings a high level of skill into the Nittany Lion goal. According to assistant coach Emily Hansel, who is responsible for working with the goalies, Ames has excellent technique and is always improving.

"I think in the past what held her back from being the top goalie, or one of the top goalies, in the country was more of the mental aspect of the game," Hansel said. "I think as a senior she's ready. She's got the full package this year."

Ames agreed that she was slightly apprehensive in the past. Her sophomore year she was uncomfortable because she was less experienced than the rest of the starters and last year she found herself in a different, but equally difficult, situation.

"Last year it was a switch in the roles," Ames said. "I was the goalie, with all this experience, and I had a brand new defense in front of me. It was a rebuilding year, and that might have made me a little uneasy. This year everything seems to be in place."

In the same way that the defense's experience gives Ames confidence, Ames also gives the defenders a sense of security.

"They're confident that they can take risks and know Megan's back there," Weinberg said. "It helps all the defenders, and the defense as a unit. They're confident and feel like they can go after things."

In addition to helping the defense, Ames has also aided in the progress of the team's other two goalies. Sophomore Andrea Sorgi, who missed most of last year with an injury, and freshman Melissa Jung round out the goalkeeping roster, and both underclassmen benefit from working with a seasoned veteran.

"Megan is such a great role model for them," Hansel said.

"She has the technique, and it helps them a lot just being able to watch her every day," Hansel added.

So, when the Lions take on Cornell at home to begin their season Saturday, Sorgi and Jung will most likely be on the sidelines. Both underclassmen, according to Hansel, will be completely content with that position, and she said they recognize their roles as practice goalies.

And that role, according to Weinberg, is not only crucial to their development, but also to the team's improvement.

"Having three goalies is an asset as far as drills go," Weinberg said.

"We have 32 players and having three goalies allows us to spread things out at three cages when we're working on taking shots."

While the rest of the team is strengthening their offensive skills, the three goalies are also working together to better their technique.

"The greatest thing about all three of them is that they work well together," Weinberg said.

"They all push each other and help each other and critique each other," Weinberg added.